
20 21
Prole
Singaporean native student, 21 years old;
How do you feel about water scarcity in Singapore; do you
think it’s a big issue?
It is a national issue that should be of concern but the coun-
try has been doing enough to reassure the people. There
only seems to be panic during the extreme periods of heat or
drought, so in a way, it feels like there should be more attention
on the issue as people might not be suciently aware of the
severity of compromises to our water supply.
Do you feel you have enough water to use in daily life?
(Showering, laundry, dishes, drinking etc.)
Denitely, the water supply gives reassurance and I believe
most people (at least of my age) would not be worried about the
water running during daily activities.
What do you think about Singapore water strategies?
-> NEWater, desalination of sea water, rainwater harvesting
(into reservoirs), Malaysian imports.
I nd the Singapore government’s eorts commendable in
their attempts to ensure water security. Limited by the scarcity
of land, they have more or less exploited all possible means.
Personally, I nd that more could be done on educating the
Appendix I
Interview with Singaporean
people and shaping more water-conscious habits. The people
around me are mostly aware of the water situation in Singapore
but do not practice sustainable habits in their daily life due to the
reassurance that the government will nd ways to provide for
their wasteful habits.
Malaysian imports will end in 2060; what do you think will
happen then?
Malaysia would benet more from extending the contract as
Singapore has already been really generous with its terms.
However, if the imports do terminate before the government is
able to arrange for alternative sources, I do expect a period of
scarcity. I would like to have strong faith in the government as
ensuring water security would be a top priority not just con-
cerning the existing population’s survival as well as Singapore’s
future since there has been great reliance on our global image
of stability.
Do you enjoy streams and rivers in Singapore? Is there
enough of them?
The water bodies in Singapore are pretty nice relaxation spots
considering the reservoirs and garden parks. Even the less
glamorous water drainage systems like the canals have been
recently developed to become spots for leisure and greenery.
I would denitely love to see more although such desires might
be less feasible given our geographical limitations. It would be
great if our existing landscapes could be preserved.